I'm at a payphone...

A colleague was having a conversation with her 7th graders about the song "Payphone" by Maroon 5.  (My first question is why the hell does Adam Levine need to use a payphone in the first place?  He has tons of money and surely has a cell phone. Does not compute).  Anyway, being that today's 7th graders were born in the year 2000 and beyond (chew on that for a minute, will you? Yeah, they have no claim to the 90's.  They were born after the new millennium.  Crazy), they did not live in a world where cell phones were not ubiquitous.  
So, my colleague asks her students, "Do you guys even know what a payphone is?" And one answers, "Yeah, those are those phones that you put minutes on ahead of time."  My colleague was first like: /headdesk.  And then answered, "No.  That is a pre-paid cell phone.  A payphone is a phone that you have to put change in before you can make a phone call."  Another student speaks up, "Oh! The phone in a box!?"  Yes.  The phone in the box.
So then I started thinking about pay phones.  I remembered how much of a pain in the ass they were to use...especially if you didn't have change.  But there's something nostalgic about them.  They played a big part of my pre-teen and early teen years.  It kind of makes me sad that my students will never know what its like to have to fish change out of the fountain at the mall just to call for a ride home.  Or, when you were really desperate because you'd spent your last penny on something stupid you really didn't need from Spencers or Hot Topic, calling home collect and when asked to state your name, you quickly rambled, "I'matthemallcomepickmeup" so that your parents/older sibling could deny the charges.  Did anyone else do this?

RollerCon 2012

Returning to reality after spending 5 days at a roller derby convention in Las Vegas is rough.  I literally only left the vicinity of the hotel once, on Friday night, to go to a fancy dinner at The Sugar Factory with my league mates and my derby wife.  The rest of the time, I only went outside to go to the pool or across the parking lot to The Peppermill.  Everything happened inside the Riviera.  You woke up in the morning, went downstairs, and could literally choose between 4 different training classes, open scrimmage or open skate, 4 different seminars, shopping in Vendor Village, or watching or participating in Challenge Bouts all day long.  Or of course, there was the pool which was open 24 hours a day, just for us!

RollerCon was fucking amazing.  I took classes and seminars from my favorite skaters, learned to Jam Skate, watched my heroes skate (Team USA!), got my ass kicked up and down the track by Razorslut of LADD, swam, drank, partied.  Oh boy did I party.  I don't really party.  Sometimes months will go by and I haven't had any alcohol, but RollerCon is an exception.  We rolled into Vegas at around 5:00 Wednesday morning, checked in, celebrated with some beers, and went to bed for about 4 hours before getting up and hitting registration. Then, we spent the rest of the day by the pool.  That night, we went to karaoke at the Top of the Riv.  Roller derby people take karaoke very seriously.  As evidenced in the video below:

There are parties every night.  Wednesday was karaoke.  Thursday was the Reidell luau (and then karaoke afterward).  Friday was Derby Wedding and Pants Off, Dance Off (and leg wrestling and derby divorce).  Saturday was the Black and Blue Ball.  One of my friends was also in Vegas for a hacker conference called DEFCON and he meandered over to the Black and Blue Ball and said they closed the pool down at 5 am.  I think I left somewhere around 3.  RollerCon was amazing.  I can't even explain it.  I'll let the pictures tell the story. :)

The road to Vegas at 2:45 am

 5:20 am beers!

 The registration line

 Mimosas at the Peppermill!

 Fireside lounge at the Peppermill.  What a time warp, right?  And that's INSIDE!

 MBDD watching the Team Sexy vs. Chupacabras Peligrosas bout!

Team Sexy vs. Chupacabras Peligrosas

The pool on Wednesday night.

 The karaoke crowd (and Eve L Twin)

 Vix and Eve slow dancing

 MBDD in line to get tickets to Quadzilla's jam skating class

 Luau!!!

 Vix and I about had a heart attach when the aliens from Sesame Street showed up at the luau.

Oh yeah, and Surge, Jem, Beans (not pictured), and I met Coolio by the pool and gave him a piggy back ride.  This is not a joke.  It really is him.  He's kind of a d-bag.

 Friday night: all dressed up for fancy dinner at The Sugar Factory (at the Paris)

 This was our 36 oz goblet of yummy goodness.  It tasted like gummy worms and had gummy worms in it.

 Sharing our drink.  We couldn't even finish it all.

Quadzilla and Demanda Riot ready to leg wrestle at Pants Off, Dance Off

 Fresh Step and I drinking our Coronaritas at the Peppermill on Saturday night.

 Black and blue ball!  I was actually wearing a dress.  That lasted about 15 minutes until it was just too hot and we decided to get in the pool.

 Sunday, mid day.  Team USA played Philly (and won by a lot).  This was the first time I'd gotten to see my hero, Suzy Hot Rod skate in person.  She plays for Gotham in New York, so it was probably a once in a life time opportunity.  And we were sitting right behind their bench.  To say I was excited is an understatement.

Monday: the road home.

If you want to read about what I learned at RollerCon, check out my Jux.  Does anyone else out there have one?  I like it a lot.  School starts on Wednesday, officially, but I had to go back to work for meetings and trainings and classroom work yesterday.  I really, really don't want summer to be over, but I saw a ton of my students from last year today when I was at school (they're group leaders for the new 6th graders coming in) and it was so good to see them.  Also, there's a slight chance I'll teach one section of 8th grade (if we hire this new guy who wants to teach ELD) and if that happens, I'll have some of my former students.  SO excited, but trying not to get my hopes up.  And now, I must blowdry my hair and get ready for bed.  I'm not used to getting up early anymore. :(

I'm still alive...

Um...what?  It's been since February that I last posted?  Yeesh!  Okay, so I kind of had an excuse in the beginning.  I broke my wrist in a game on St. Patrick's Day.  So instead of drinking a ton of green beer at the after party, I sat in the Emergency Room for 2 hours.  Joy.

That blur? That's me in the miliseconds before my wrist snapped.

The EMT's were really nice.

Cheesin'

 They made me get on the gurney.  It was really embarrassing.  I was like, "Really.  I can walk."

 Sitting in the ER.

My orthopedist is our league doctor, and he gave me the okay to skate after about 4 weeks.  So, I did what any derby girl-still-in-a-cast does--duct tape a wrist guard to that shit and skate!

I have recovered from that injury and have been back to skating for quite some time.  My home team just won our most recent intraleague game last Saturday.  202-110, Babes of Wrath!!!  

In non-derby news, the school year ended on a super effing awesome note.  My classes read The Hunger Games and had the best time with it.  I actually looked forward to going to work every day.  It was amazing.  Kids who had been failing all year ended the quarter with B's and A's because they were so into the book.  I will write a more detailed post on that later because it deserves its own.  It will probably be image heavy.  Right now, I'm enjoying summer.  I can't believe that it's about half over already though.  I feel like I've done a lot, and yet not much at all.  It's currently 11:00am and I'm still in bed.  This is what summer is for.  

I started reading the Fifty Shades of Grey series (I know, I know...) out of morbid curiosity.  I had heard about how poorly written it was.  It has actually exceeded my expectations.  I expected it to be far worse than it was.  James actually has a respectable vocabulary and her imagery isn't bad.  Her tendency to repeat the same phrases over and over and over again is annoying and I don't really feel that I care too much about the main characters, but for obvious reasons, the books are holding my attention.  Or, if you're not familiar, perhaps they aren't that obvious.  To be blunt: the sex is hot.  So, of course I'm going to keep reading.  There is actually a plot.  It's not very gripping, but it's there.  Am I selling this series or what?

I should get up and shower.  I'm going to lunch then seeing Magic Mike before travel team practice tonight.  I hope you all had a great 4th, yesterday!

10 Things

Sorry this is so hard to read.  Couldn't figure out how to change it.


1. Repost the rules

2. Post a photo of yourself accompanied by 10 random things 

3. Answer the questions the previous poster posted to you 

4. Create 10 new questions and tag people so they'll do it too!

I'm excited about this.  I've seen it floating around the blogosphere!  And I'm at work where I should be getting ready for my students to come in, but natch, I'm doing this instead...

I'm on the left.  This was at our league's roller derby prom in December.

10 random things about me:

1. I love Marilyn Manson.  LOVE.

2. I absolutely can't stand whining.  7th graders do a LOT of that.  Makes me want to beat my head against a wall.

3. I seriously fear each birthday that comes.  I want to be 22 and stay that age forever.  I never want to be too old to shop at F21 and have tattoos and play roller derby and go to punk rock shows.  I fear being the old teacher that is totally disconnected with her students' interests.  I like that I know what they listen to and that they think I'm awesome and like me simply because I'm young and then grow to love me because I'm a good teacher.

4. Empire Records is my favorite movie of all time.  Like Mandy, I can quote every single word.  "Well Shineid-O-Rebellion.  Shock me, shock me, shock me with that deviant behavior!"

5. When I was in middle school, I was OBSESSED with Hanson.  OBSESSED.  And I still love them.  They rule.

6. I graduated high school with a 4.3 gpa.  Nerd alert!

7. I am in a lot of debt and am a terrible saver.  As a teacher, I don't make a lot of money as it is, but a normal person without a lot of debt would live comfortably on what I make.  I, however, live paycheck to paycheck.  I'm broker than I was when I was in college and worked at Target.

8. I had a mohawk in college.

9. I thought I'd be married with a family by now.

10. I truly believe I have the best parents that ever lived :)

questions from Mandy at Harper's Happenings

1. have you ever met someone famous? Yes! A few actually!  I met Dennis Haskins (Mr. Belding, WHAT UP!)  I've also literally run into Jordan Knight (from NKOTB).
2. what is your happiest childhood memory? Playing in my play kitchen and making meals for my parents.
3. favorite album of all time? Oh shit.  "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" by Bright Eyes "This Time Around" by Hanson, "Antichrist Superstar" by Marilyn Manson, New Found Glory's self-titled
4. are you a salty or sweet lover?  both! I have to have both!  If I eat chips, I have to eat candy afterward.
5. what is favorite guilty pleasure tv show or movie? Teen Mom, Jersey Shore (I know, I know!), Good Burger
6. describe your favorite sandwich. Oh man, California Club from Jerseys.  It doesn't sound like anything special-- turkey, jack cheese, avocado, mayo, mustard, lettuce, onions, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano.  I don't know what it is.  Maybe because they pre-mix their mayo and mustard?
7. what was your first pet? Tom the dog :)
8. what is your biggest accomplishment thus far in life? My BA? The teaching award I was nominated for?  Actually, beyond that, my proudest moment of my professional career was when my former student told me, "It was so refreshing to know we had your class 1st period.  It was like we were home."
9. what is the first blog you started reading? Adored Austin
10. if you had to choose one dessert for the rest of your life, what would it be? OMG WHAT?! One dessert?!?! Brownies.

Here are my questions:

1. Who was your favorite teacher?  What made them great?

2. What is your favorite sport?

3. If you were president, what is the first thing you would do?

4. What is your favorite family tradition?

5. Who is your favorite guilty pleasure, musically?

6. What is something you've always wanted to do but never had the guts?

7. What was your favorite tv show growing up?

8. Are you proud to be an American?

9. What is your deepest fear?

10. What is the best gift you've ever received?

Mini-me

We all have those students we want to take under our wings, for various reasons.  There are the ones we want to save, the ones we want to inspire, or the ones who remind us so much of our former selves.  I have a student named Brianna who is reminds me a lot of myself in college (when I was in my punk rock stage), but she's 13.  She's got dyed black hair and is a bit of a punk and she is obsessed with the band Falling In Reverse.  She's super smart, but doesn't apply herself, and I don't really think the other kids her age "get" her.  We don't have punk rock kids at our school.

Last year, I had a student who no one really "got" except me.  She was kinda indie/punk.  Super adorable.  Great taste in music.  She didn't really have people who accepted her on campus.  She had friends, but they weren't like her.  A lot of girls didn't like her because they didn't understand what she was about and thought she was pretentious, so they were always trying to start shit with her.  She ended up changing schools and finally found a place where she felt accepted.  Thank goodness, because she's such a special person.

Anyway, back to Brianna.  The other kids don't really understand her obsession with this band.  They all listen to LMFAO and David Guetta and Bruno Mars.  They know nothing of rock music, especially punk, pop-punk, or scream-o.  Brianna was so excited a couple weeks ago because her mom bought her tickets to go see Falling In Reverse in concert.  Brianna has been failing my class (and many others) all year.  Brianna's mom came to conferences last week and found out how her daughter has been performing in school and Brianna told me today that her mom is no longer taking her to see Falling in Reverse.  My heart broke for her.  I totally understand why her mom took the concert away from her.  Props to her mom for stepping in to make sure her daughter gets back on the right path with her education, but man.  Music has always been one of the most important things in my life and I so know how important it is to Brianna.  I wish I could take Brianna to the show myself.  I wish I could talk her mom into taking her.  Because this show is not just a fun night.  This show is EVERYTHING to a 13 year old girl who does nothing but write about/think about/daydream about this band.  And it's not just a show.  She'll be around people who understand what she's about.  For once, she'll be around people just like her.  For once, she'll have a place to belong.

Survey

Stole this from Steff over at Iffy Inklings
Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?
No preference. 


Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel?Depends on the quality.  I always take the lotions though!  But if the shampoo is something cheap like "Head & Shoulders 2-in1", no thank you!


Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?
The feet are almost always tucked in.


Have you ever stolen a street sign before?
No way!  I'm a good girl :)


Do you like to use post-it notes?I'm OBSESSED with post-it notes.  I put them everywhere.


Do you cut out coupons but then never use them?I usually throw them away.  But then I'll watch Extreme Couponing and think, "why not me?"


Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees?
Bees. 


Do you have freckles?On my arms


Do you always smile for pictures?No.  I have the WORST photo smile.


What is your biggest pet peeve?
Poor grammar.


Do you ever count your steps when you walk?Sometimes


Have you ever peed in the woods?
Maybe once?


What about pooped in the woods?Nope!


Do you ever dance even if theres no music playing?All the time.  There's always music playing in my head :)


Do you chew your pens and pencils?
Nope because I'm always loaning them to students and I don't want their diseases.


How many people have you slept with this week?Zero


What size is your bed?
Full 


Is it okay for guys to wear pink?Didn't you hear?  Real men wear pink.


Do you still watch cartoons?Sometimes.  Daria will always be my fave.


Whats your least favorite movie?LEAST?  Oh jeeze.  Lots.  I don't know.

Non re-elects

Last week was a really trying week, mentally and emotionally.  On Wednesday, they non re-elected every teacher on my campus that wasn't tenured.  A non re-elect is different than a layoff.  A layoff is because of budget reasons.  Sorry, we can't afford to keep you.  A non re-elect is for teachers who are in their probationary years.  When you begin teaching in California, you are on probation for two years.  During those two years, they can fire you at any time and they don't have to give a reason.  At the end of your second year, they have to decide if they want to keep you, thereby granting you tenure, or get rid of you because you're not good enough.  A non re-elect means that you can never work in that district again, whereas if you get laid off, you can always reapply.  So, 5 teachers on our campus (4 of the 5 who are GREAT teachers) were non re-elected, two of them being my good friends of mine and another being the only eye candy on campus!

Last year, Melissa and Rebecca received stellar observations by admin (this year, we have all new admin and they're terrible.  It's very much an us vs. them mentality on my campus) and this year, they received good observations--not the stellar ones from last year, but still good.  Then, their most recent observation forms come back and they're marked "does not meet expectations" on one tiny, stupid, minute thing--which is all they need to non re-elect someone.  One of the 6th grade teachers received a "does not meet expectations" because she didn't have enough things on her walls!  She is a first year teacher who was given really difficult kids and had been asking admin for help all year, but received none.  And then they fired her.

Rebecca is our music teacher who also took on the leadership class, organized a huge school-wide going away party for our campus monitor, Eddie, who had been at the school FOREVER (who the new admin promptly transferred to another school as soon as they stepped onto campus), and spent countless hours putting on concerts and doing anything else they needed done at school.  Yeah, she was non re-elected.  Melissa was harrassed on a daily basis for almost a semester by one of her students.  He said, "Shut up, bitch" and "Fuck you, bitch" to her and the Instructional Aide in her classroom on a daily basis.  Nothing was really ever done about that kid.  He was finally moved into the Opportunity class, after A SEMESTER of that.

It sickens me, the way teachers are treated.  What was their reasoning for non re-electing them instead of just laying them off?  Public education is a joke.

In other news, that fall I took a couple weeks ago?  It looks like this now:

It's super puffy and itchy!
On Sunday, we went up to Oakland to scrimmage the Oakland Outlaws.  It was a ton of fun and they were great hostesses as usual.  Last year, we scrimmaged them in February.  It was the first time that we, as a travel team, had played against another team EVER.  We lost 242-24.  This year, we only lost 152-51.  We did so much better!  And we only had 10 skaters and they had 17, so we were tiring out much more quickly. I love B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls.

I've come down with a really terrible cold and am out of work for my second day. :( I'm trying to get as much rest and liquids in as possible because we have a game in Paso Robles on Saturday and I need to be able to play.